APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – The nation is currently facing a blood shortage, and northeast Wisconsin is no exception.
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Community Blood Center CEO John Hagins says that 60% of blood centers in the Midwest are currently facing a shortage.
“The need for blood is always constant, and this is one of those times,” Hagins said.
He said the need is for all bloodtypes, but the need for two kinds stands out.
“We’ve had a lot of hospitals that have needed a lot of O+, O-, and other blood types to meet those patient needs,” Hagins said.
The Community Blood Center said during the cold winter months, seasonal illness can make it harder to fill appointments.
The Community Blood Center told Local 5 that despite the ongoing need, only 3% of Americans donate blood every year, with 65% being eligible.
Laura Wright is part of that 3%. Wright said she drives 40 miles to the Community Blood Center every couple of weeks to donate.
“I take a day off of work to come in and do this because I know it is so necessary,” Wright said.
She said that giving blood is a small step that can make a big difference for someone else.
“I like knowing I’m doing what I can; part of me thinks I want others to be donating for my loved ones, so I want to be donating for someone else’s,” Wright said.
She said that knowing her donations help people is surreal.
“It’s just an incredibly good feeling,” Wright said. “Knowing wow, this is not something that can be bought or sold.” “Its something everyone can provide, everyone.”
Hagins said when donations drop, there is only one way to bring the supply back up.
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“There is no substitute for human blood,” Hagins said. “So when we run into a situation where the inventory drops, the only answer for that is for people to donate blood.”
The Community Blood Center donates to 40 hospitals in northeast Wisconsin. Click here for more information on donating.
